Tonsillectomy on rivaroxaban

Perioperative management in chronically anticoagulated children undergoing tonsillectomy

BACKGROUND

When undergoing tonsillectomy, patients at high risk of thrombosis who require chronic anticoagulation therapy pose a special challenge as bleeding may occur up to 2 weeks after surgery. Because of a lack of evidence-based data, there is no consensus on the best management for such patients. The objective of our study was to review perioperative anticoagulation bridging strategies in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

METHODS

The study group were a retrospective series of patients on chronic anticoagulation therapy at high risk of a thromboembolic event, who underwent tonsillectomy from 2010 to 2021. Patients whose anticoagulation treatment was discontinued because of a low risk of thromboembolic events were excluded.

RESULTS

Four patients met the inclusion criteria (age range, 1.5-16.1 years). All patients were admitted prior to surgery for bridging therapy with intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH), drip-titrated to a therapeutic dose until 4-6 h prior to surgery. The estimated blood loss during surgery was minimal in all surgeries. Unfractionated heparin was readministered according to the hospital protocol on the night of surgery and titrated to a therapeutic dose. Warfarin was restarted within 2 days postsurgery for all patients. High-risk patients were kept in hospital until postoperative day 6-8 because of concern for delayed bleeding. One patient was noticed to have blood-tinged sputum requiring no intervention; none of the patients developed early or delayed hematemesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that bridging therapy with UFH has been successful in chronically anticoagulated patients undergoing tonsillectomy. These patients require multidisciplinary care for the management of their pre- and postoperative course.

The Rate of Epistaxis Incidence in New-Generation Anticoagulants and Perioperative Approach in Otorhinolaryngological Practices

Nose bleeding is a common situation seen in otorhinolaryngological practices. One of the greatest risk factors in nose bleeding is the use of anticoagulant medicine. With the medicine developed in recent years, the risk of nose bleeding due to the frequent use of anticoagulant and antiagregant is gradually increasing.The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of especially new-generation anticoagulants on nose bleeding. In addition, the use and complications of new-generation anticoagulants and antiagregants have been compiled in light of information obtained from the literature.Three hundred forty patients whose follow-up is conducted by the cardiology department and who use oral antithrombocytic medicine have been included in the study. It has been determined that 15% of these patients use new-generation oral anticoagulants (Rivaroksaban, apiksaban, dabigatran, danaparoid) and the other patients are treated with conventional antithrombocytic treatment (Aspirin, Warfarin, Enoksaparin sodium). The rate of nose bleeding in patients who use classical anticoagulants has been observed to be 28%. In 30 of these patients who had nose bleeding, while cauterization and buffering by otorhinolaryngology specialists, major intervention has not been necessary for any of the patients. While bleeding has been observed in 26% of the patients who use new-generation anticoagulants, bleeding that required operational intervention has taken place in 2 patients. Bleedings have been stopped surgically through a large number of cauterization and buffering.While the new-generation anticoagulants cause lower rate of bleeding, it has been observed that controlling these bleedings is more difficult.